Carolina (3-2-0) at Toronto (3-1-2) 7:30 pm EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) -- Two of the hottest teams in hockey square off
Thursday when the Toronto Maple Leafs open a three-game
homestand by welcoming the Carolina Hurricanes to the Air Canada
Centre.

The Maple Leafs have rebounded from a slow start to win three
straight games by a combined score of 16-5. On Saturday night,
Toronto posted a 3-2 victory at Montreal behind a pair of goals
by Eric Lindros, including the game-winner with under eight
minutes left.

Carolina also has been playing well of late, posting a pair of
impressive victories this week. After trouncing Washington,
7-2, earlier in the week, the Hurricanes rolled over New Jersey,
6-1, on Saturday as captain Rod Brind'Amour scored twice.

The Hurricanes will run into former friend Jeff O'Neill on
Thursday. The team traded O'Neill to the Maple Leafs on July 30
and the 29-year-old has paid immediate dividends, scoring four
goals this season, including three in Friday's 9-1 win at
Atlanta.

The key for Carolina might be controlling Toronto's power play,
which has gone 15-for-51 so far this season. The Hurricanes are
7-for-38 with the man advantage.